Asbestos Diseases

The risk of developing asbestos-related disease depends on a number of factors, including cumulative dose, time since first exposure and type and size of asbestos fibres.

For those that have been exposed to asbestos for one day, the ‘one fibre kills’ theory has been scientifically proven not to be true. While it might be true that it only takes one fibre to trigger the onset of an asbestos-related disease, unless that one fibre is accompanied by many million others, statistically, the chances of that one fibre causing a disease are non-existent.

Breathing in asbestos fibres can lead to asbestos-related diseases. Past exposure to asbestos currently kills approximately 4500 people a year in the UK. This number is expected to go on rising for at least the next ten years. There is no cure for asbestos-related diseases. The asbestos diseases are mainly cancers of the chest and lungs and they kill more people than any other single work-related cause.

There is usually a long delay between exposure to asbestos and the onset of disease, which can vary between 15 and 60 years.

Smokers who are exposed to asbestos have an increased risk of developing some asbestos-related diseases. The majority of people currently dying of asbestos-related diseases were exposed to asbestos during the 1950s and 1960s when its use was widespread; however, the majority of people being recently diagnosed with asbestos related diseases are those that have been exposed since bans on the use of asbestos containing materials started to come into force.

Inhalation is the usual route of exposure to asbestos fibres. Such exposure may give rise to pleural plaques, pleural thickening, asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. It has also been suggested that asbestos fibres may cause cancers at other sites, but evidence for this is limited.

Asbestos-related diseases are slow forming and generally appear more than twenty years after first exposure. There are no specific set of signs and symptoms of asbestos-related diseases for Doctors to recognise. The initial diagnosis is made by exclusion of other conditions, and association with asbestos exposure.

Pleural plaques

Pleural plaques are fibrous or thickened areas, which form on the surface of the parietal pleura, a membrane around the lungs. Pleural plaques may be seen in X-Rays of people exposed to asbestos. Pleural plaques do not become cancers or normally cause breathing difficulties.

Diffuse pleural thickening

Pleural thickening can sometimes cause signs of lung impairment and may be associated with asbestosis but often not found except on X-ray.

Asbestosis

Asbestosis is the irreversible scarring of the lungs, with a decrease in elasticity. Asbestosis is irreversible and can progress even after exposure to asbestos has stopped, although there is no risk from environmental exposure. Asbestosis is an industrial disease, resulting from high levels of any of the types of asbestos

Lung cancer

Workers exposed to asbestos have an increased risk of developing lung cancer and the risk is further increased by smoking. It is, therefore, likely that the overall risk of lung cancer will be reduced if an individual exposed to asbestos stops smoking. Lung cancer produced by asbestos is indistinguishable from that caused by other agents.

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lungs; the pleura. The risk of mesothelioma is not influenced by smoking. There is evidence of an increased risk if exposure has been to blue or brown asbestos; there have been examples of people getting mesothelioma following low or short exposures to blue or brown asbestos. Mesothelioma is a tumour arising from cells of the pleura and its development is associated with exposure to asbestos. Mesotheliomas can also form in the lining around the intestines; the peritoneum and the lining around the heart; the pericardium.

Cancer at other sites

Although an association between cancers of the larynx and gastrointestinal tract and exposure to asbestos has been suggested, data from the relevant studies have not shown a consistent picture.

Asbestos warts

While not caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibres, asbestos warts are still an asbestos-related disease. Asbestos warts are caused when fibres are caught under the skin and form callous-like growths, which are non-cancerous.

Course Details

Face fit testing ensures that an adequate seal can be formed between the face seal of the chosen respirator and the wearer’s face.
After conducting a workplace assessment, it is no

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Course Details

Face fit testing ensures that an adequate seal can be formed between the face seal of the chosen respirator and the wearer’s face.

After conducting a workplace assessment, it is no longer enough to supply a respirator, which meets a particular standard. It is the employer’s duty to ensure that an employee can obtain an effective face seal with the chosen RPE. No two faces are the same and therefore, despite advances in respiratory technology, one tight fitting respirator will not fit everyone.

Face fit testing as part of the respirator selection process saves time, money and is an investment in the safety and well-being of the workforce.

G&L Consultancy can provide either quantitative or qualitative face fit testing at our offices in Somerset and Northern Ireland, or at your chosen workplace as required.

Course Details

Regulation 10 of ‘The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012’ places a duty on employers to ensure that all employees who are liable to be exposed to asbestos receive adequate information,

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Course Details

Regulation 10 of ‘The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012’ places a duty on employers to ensure that all employees who are liable to be exposed to asbestos receive adequate information, instruction and training.This course covers the following topics: Introduction to Asbestos, Health Effects of Asbestos, Asbestos Legislation, Asbestos Containing Materials, Emergency Procedures and Avoiding the Risks of Asbestos.

Regulation 10 of ‘The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012’ places a duty on employers to ensure that all employees who are liable to be exposed to asbestos receive adequate information, instruction and training and there is an increased duty on those employees who will knowingly disturb asbestos containing materials through the course of their work.This course covers the following topics: Introduction to Asbestos, Health Effects of Asbestos, Asbestos Containing Materials, Asbestos Legislation, Responsibilities, Risk Assessments & Plans of Work, Methods & Equipment and HSE Task Sheets.

Course Details

7th, 14th, 21st, 28th May & 4th June.
The BOHS P405 course is recommended for those wishing to comply with regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 - The

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Course Details

7th, 14th, 21st, 28th May & 4th June.

The BOHS P405 course is recommended for those wishing to comply with regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 – The Duty to Manage.

The course provides a practical knowledge and the skills at be able to manage asbestos in buildings and to provide a basic knowledge of asbestos removal procedures.

A four-day course with a further day of written and practical examinations being run over five consecutive weeks. A successful completion of the examinations will lead to a: ‘PROFICIENCY CERTIFICATE’ in MANAGEMENT OF ASBESTOS IN BUILDINGS.

Course Details

This course includes the required training at the appropriate level of detail in order for Licensed Asbestos Contractors to comply with the requirements of Operative Refresher Training.
A one day refresher

Course Details

This course includes the required training at the appropriate level of detail in order for Licensed Asbestos Contractors to comply with the requirements of Operative Refresher Training.

A one day refresher course covering modules 1 to 19 and 25 of Chapter 4 of HSG247; Asbestos: The Licensed Contractors’ Guide, including a written assessment

Regulation 10 of ‘The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012’ places a duty on employers to ensure that any employee who is liable to be exposed to asbestos receives adequate training. This training must be refreshed on a regular (annual) basis.

Course Details

Face fit testing ensures that an adequate seal can be formed between the face seal of the chosen respirator and the wearer’s face.
After conducting a workplace assessment, it is no

more

Course Details

Face fit testing ensures that an adequate seal can be formed between the face seal of the chosen respirator and the wearer’s face.

After conducting a workplace assessment, it is no longer enough to supply a respirator, which meets a particular standard. It is the employer’s duty to ensure that an employee can obtain an effective face seal with the chosen RPE. No two faces are the same and therefore, despite advances in respiratory technology, one tight fitting respirator will not fit everyone.

Face fit testing as part of the respirator selection process saves time, money and is an investment in the safety and well-being of the workforce.

G&L Consultancy can provide either quantitative or qualitative face fit testing at our offices in Somerset and Northern Ireland, or at your chosen workplace as required.

Course Details

Face fit testing ensures that an adequate seal can be formed between the face seal of the chosen respirator and the wearer’s face.
After conducting a workplace assessment, it is no

more

Course Details

Face fit testing ensures that an adequate seal can be formed between the face seal of the chosen respirator and the wearer’s face.

After conducting a workplace assessment, it is no longer enough to supply a respirator, which meets a particular standard. It is the employer’s duty to ensure that an employee can obtain an effective face seal with the chosen RPE. No two faces are the same and therefore, despite advances in respiratory technology, one tight fitting respirator will not fit everyone.

Face fit testing as part of the respirator selection process saves time, money and is an investment in the safety and well-being of the workforce.

G&L Consultancy can provide either quantitative or qualitative face fit testing at our offices in Somerset and Northern Ireland, or at your chosen workplace as required.

Course Details

1st, 8th, 15th 22nd February & 1st March.
The BOHS P405 course is recommended for those wishing to comply with regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 - The

more

Course Details

1st, 8th, 15th 22nd February & 1st March.

The BOHS P405 course is recommended for those wishing to comply with regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 – The Duty to Manage.

The course provides a practical knowledge and the skills at be able to manage asbestos in buildings and to provide a basic knowledge of asbestos removal procedures.

A four-day course with a further day of written and practical examinations being run over five consecutive weeks. A successful completion of the examinations will lead to a: ‘PROFICIENCY CERTIFICATE’ in MANAGEMENT OF ASBESTOS IN BUILDINGS.

Testimonials

“The training provided by G&L was first Class. They tailored the session to suit our business needs and our staff learned a great deal about the asbestos industry and the impacts it can have on our work. G&L made a very technical subject, easy to understand. We would have no issue inviting them again to carry out refresher training for Continue Reading

Asbestos Training

We were in need of some immediate remediation work on an asbestos cladded building. G&L provided an excellent service helping us to comply with not only our Asbestos legal obligations but also our ethical obligations to reduce risks to our employees and neighbouring businesses. The site team were professional, polite, very helpful, clean and safe at all times. The end Continue Reading

TODS AEROSPACE

From past experience, I have always found G&L Analysts to be very efficient in all aspects of their works.

GIlpin Environmental

“Since commencement of the Asbestos Framework for Properties Division (Lot 1 – North) in February 2016, G&L Consultancy Ltd have delivered an excellent service to the Division’s wide and varied Customer-base. Their survey reports and advice received to date, have been of the highest quality and their commitment to meeting demanding completion targets, equally impressive. Properties Division looks forward to Continue Reading

Department of Finance – Northern Ireland

Darren was a terrific tutor – Very engaging, thanks. Mark Nowak – Exeter City Council

Asbestos Awareness Training

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Darren Alway for holding a great training course for licensed contract managers last week. I took a lot away with me and thoroughly enjoyed myself over the two days. Darren was a great help and delivered interesting and relevant information and guidance. The ladies in reception were very polite and welcoming, Continue Reading

Jenny Drouet – Shield Environmental Services Ltd

Training – ‘Overall a very good course. The tutor was excellent, with a very sound knowledge + also willing to listen. A good day well spent

Tony Zbijowski – Danisco (UK) – Dupont

Training – ‘It was clearly and comprehensively shared information to the group with an opportunity to participate and put questions forward

Caroline Barber – Danisco (UK) – DuPont

The quality of service and helpfulness from G&L has been excellent. Moreover, despite expecting the Report to take 10 days I have received it in a little over 24 hours from the physical inspection being completed; truly outstanding, and very much appreciated as it has enabled me to take my refurbishment project forward quickly. Thank you all very much.

Mr John Widger

In my experience the G & L service is quick and efficient.

M W Consultancy Ltd

Always find the work carried out is always of a very high standard.

Shield Environmental Services Ltd

Always friendly always help out if needed, happy to use G & L Consultancy Ltd.

Tru Environmental Ltd

To date on this new site project within Portadown the service provided was professional and competent and the received survey reports were a vital component compiling the sites asbestos register.

Kingspan Environmental Europe

All G & L staff have acted in an efficient and professional manner at all times. Equally all reports have been of a high standard.

Somerset College of Art & Technology

I have always found G & L Consultancy service standard to be very high with all staff being very knowledgeable and helpful.

Red Sky Group

A very reliable and competitive service. I would have and will continue to recommend G & L to all my clients.

Precision Industrial Services

There are times when we rely on advice from an analyst and G & L have always given sound advice and are always helpful.

University of Ulster

I would just like to comment on the prompt and efficient service that we received. All comments and queries were responded to promptly and with great patience!

Commercial Graphics (NI) Ltd

The service provided in all respects has been very professional and also of good quality and the company has shown caring positive attitude in all respects to nature of work.

N I Housing Executive

Efficient, professional and responded well at short notice without compromising service.

McDonalds

The survey and remedials were both first class. The survey was so extensive and detailed and the surveyor and all staff were very knowledgeable. Everything from the quote to the completed site file was first class and I shall definitely be recommending G & L to all Jockey Club Racecourses.